Category: Deals & Seasonal

Witness the Cherry Blossom & Have the Best Time of your Life in Washington DC

Beautiful View of Washington Monument

In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo sent a gift of thousands of Japanese cherry trees to Washington, D.C. as a symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan. This gift started the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is, hands down, the best time of the year to visit Washington. At GotoBus.com, this is one of our personal favorite events; we absolutely love the sight of the pink, red, and white flowers from over 1,700 trees all bloom together in a vibrant display. The way the colors of the blossoms play off the quintessential white marble of D.C.’s buildings and monuments seems like a match made in heaven.

Cherry Trees along the Tidal Basin

When to go

The best time to visit Washington during the festival varies from year to year, a period known as “peak bloom,” when over 70% of the trees have blossomed. This year, peak bloom is expected to fall between March 17th and 20th and for about two weeks, you can see this breathtaking scenery in full. For as low as $15 you can take a New York to Washington DC bus

Create Memories – Labor Day Weekend Getaways to Remember

Labor Day can be kind of bittersweet: on one hand, it provides everyone with a much-need break from their busy lives, but on the other, it unofficially marks the end of summer. This makes it a really popular time to sneak in one last weekend getaway while the weather is still nice. But with fun Labor Day Weekend events happening all over the country, it can be difficult to decide where to go. GotoBus always has your back in this department. We know all the best events in the coolest cities across the U.S., so keep reading for a list of activity ideas. We’ve tried to throw in a good mix for all ages!

New York

New York City is home to some of the best urban parks in the world. Everyone knows about crown jewel, Central Park, but there are countless others located around the five boroughs that are much less crowded. If you’re looking to have a pleasant, low-key day-off, why not grab a basket, a blanket, and a few close friends, and make your way to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, a 585-acre area filled with winding paths and enough tree coverage to make you forget that you’re in one of the busiest cities in the world. Alternatively, in Manhattan’s Bryant Park, you can see a free performance or participate in one of the activities program.

Are you excited to return to campus? but before doing so, kick back on a cool trip!

Unless you spent the past few months at a research station in Antarctica, you will have probably noticed that we’re in the dog days of summer when the weather is at its muggiest, and the next school year is looming overhead like a dark shadow. Yikes! Pretty soon, all you college students out there will be saying bye to Mom, Dad, and your friends from back home, and either returning to your buddies on campus or heading there for the first time. It’s such a fun, yet challenging experience. At GotoBus, we think we’ve got a great idea: why don’t you grab a few of your friends together to set out on an affordable trip to one of the country’s best cities? There are so many hip activities happening all over, from music festivals to interactive exhibits at museums and more. We’ll be happy to help you kick back on a cool trip before returning to campus with a few last-minute event suggestions occurring across the U.S.A.

San Francisco

The Palace of Fine Arts is an absolutely beautiful monument, originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition. These days, it hosts art exhibits and other events, but any groups going to San Francisco should check out some of the games the facility hosts, such as scavenger hunts, which are fun for families, and friends. For a more intensive game that will test how well you and your friends can work together as a team, reserve tickets for the Great Houdini Escape Room. This puzzle challenge was originally designed by Harry Houdini himself, the most famous illusionist of all time, for the 1915 Exhibition, and is now celebrating its 100th year. Your group will have 80 minutes to solve a series of puzzles in an effort to get out. Keep in mind that only about 25 percent of teams are successful, so be sure to call your smartest friends!

All over the United States, we are in the height of summer, which means we have a lot of free time to enjoy the incredible weather. Of course, being out in the sun for so long requires two things: first, a good sunscreen with a high SPF (don’t get burned!), and second, some entertainment that is going to cool you down. At GotoBus.com, we love a good thrill, so we know plenty of great amusement parks around the country that feature rollercoasters, water rides, and many other attractions that are guaranteed to excite family members of all ages. Below, we’ve included descriptions for the best amusement parks for summer fun around the country.

Top o’ the morning to ya! St. Patrick’s Day comes each year on March 17th, celebrating the patron saint of Ireland. In the 1800s, many Irish began to immigrate to the U.S., and, as a result, many Americans trace their heritage back to Ireland. All over the country, cities and towns host parades to showcase the pride and spirit of their Irish communities, from sprawling urban areas like Chicago to smaller towns off the beaten path like Rolla, Missouri. As they say, “Everyone’s Irish on St. Patty’s Day!” so everyone is welcome to join in the festivities. Now, the only question that remains is where you will travel to celebrate this joyous occasion. Well, you couldn’t be luckier than if you plucked a four-leaf clover from the ground: GotoBus, the best place on the web to find affordable bus tickets, offers routes to cities all over the country. Since you can also book bus tickets and hotels together with just a few extra clicks to save even more money, there has never been an easier time to travel the country.

Boston

Of all the cities in the country, Boston is the most vocal about its Irish history. Even the city’s pro basketball team, the Celtics, borrowed its name and colors from this heritage. The neighborhood of South Boston (affectionately called “Southie”) will put on its annual parade on March 15th at 1PM. This year, because of the incredible volume of snowfall in the Northeast, the city of Boston has decided to run the parade along a shortened route, which will give you more time to enjoy yourself in one of Southie’s famous Irish pubs, like the L Street Tavern, made famous in the movie Good Will Hunting starring Boston natives Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. If you have a strong interest in U.S. history, especially from the 20th century, you should also be sure to head to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, which will host a performance of the Irish Balladeers, a musical group that plays traditional Irish folk music. Bus tickets to Boston are available for the low price of just $18.

New York

The country’s largest St. Patty’s Day parade is held in the heart of Manhattan (don’t tell Bostonians that NYC beat them!), which makes its way uptown along Fifth Avenue, a street known for its upscale shops and boutiques. The NYC parade takes pride in its history of not allowing over-the-top floats and other commercial aspects to take part in the parade, which helps preserve the magic and purity of the occasion. The festive events don’t end there, though, and tourist should be sure to partake in taking a stroll through the historically Irish neighborhoods of Manhattan. If you plan on staying in the city, head on over to the NYC Craft Beer Festival (March 13th and 14th at the Lexington Avenue Armory), where you’ll be able to taste an unlimited amount of beers from over 75 breweries, because what’s St. Patty’s Day without a nice, cold one? At GotoBus, tickets to New York City are available for as little as $21.

San Francisco

If you’re looking to get out to the beautiful West Coast, but still want to deck yourself out all in green and shamrocks, then San Francisco is the destination for you. This year, they will hold their annual parade on Saturday, March 14th. After the parade, you should head over to the Irish Festival at the Joe Alioto Performing Arts Plaza, where you will be able to enjoy traditional music, dance, and a never-ending supply of beer – let’s hope they’ve stocked plenty of Guinness! There are also plenty of local pubs that are hosting parties with performances by DJs, folk singers, and Irish rockers that promise to keep the celebration going all night long. Tickets to San Francisco start for as little as $35

These cities are just a few of the options you have; other places around the country that host large parades and festivals include Chicago, Seattle, and San Diego. And guess what? GotoBus.com offers bus routes to all three of those cities, and many, many more! Book your tickets now to ensure that you and your family have the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Erin go bragh (Ireland forever)!

Well, not quite yet, but the big night is right around the corner, and GotoBus is here to help you travel to some of the most exciting destinations across the country to close out 2014 with a bang.

As always, New York City will host its annual ball drop in Times Square, the largest New Year’s celebration in the world, which attracts an estimated one million spectators. From 6 PM to midnight, the streets are packed with people ready to turn the page to a new chapter in their lives, making resolutions for self-improvement, and seeking out that special someone for a New Year’s kiss. For decades, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will host live musical performances. This year will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest, and feature the boy band One Direction and America’s sweetheart, Taylor Swift.

If you’d like to avoid the crowd at the ball drop, there are a vast number of events and parties you can attend. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is already one of the city’s most popular attractions, but on NYE it becomes even more exciting when it hosts a party among its wax figures, letting you “party with the stars.” The party includes a 4-D cinema, an open bar, appetizers, and entertainment that is appropriate for guests of all ages. In the museum, you will have access to the viewing gallery on the 54th floor of the Hyatt Tower, which provides an excellent point-of-view of the ball drop. This will let you enjoy the iconic celebration far above the crowded streets. Bus tickets to New York City start for as little as $20.

Las Vegas is the only other city that can boast a New Year’s celebration as wild as New York’s. Celebrities love to join in the festivities here, so you could be sharing a champagne toast with one of your favorite stars! This year boasts some of the best live shows and concerts that Vegas has ever hosted. At the Chelsea, you can see the legendary Tony Bennett duet with the ever-inventive Lady Gaga. Listen to the greatest hits of Britney Spears as the pop-star performs at Planet Hollywood. For a laugh, check out Joel McHale, star of Community and host of The Soup, at the Mirage. Or perhaps, you want to ask the timeless question of “Turn Down for What?” with Lil Jon at Surrender Nightclub.

The point is, there are a near-endless amount of concerts, shows, and parties to choose from. Vegas is the place to be for NYE, baby! But don’t forget the best part: at midnight, the many casinos on the Las Vegas Strip host a synchronized fireworks display, illuminating the dark sky over the desert with a vibrant display of colors. Purchase your bus tickets to Las Vegas from Los Angeles now, for as little as $25.

On GotoBus.com, we can also help you book hotels (save even more when booking your bus tickets and hotel stay at the same time!), so you can focus on what is really important on New Year’s Eve: partying

For all of its beauty – the changing leaves, the cool breezes, the ready-to-harvest crops – Fall can be a stressful time. Suddenly, school is back in session, the weather is colder, the days are shorter, and you just can’t shake the feeling that your time to get outdoors and take in the season’s dynamic magnificence is quickly running out.

Here’s what you need to do: grab a pumpkin-spiced latte, sit down at your computer, and head to GotoBus.com, where you will find the best rates on round-trip bus tickets, and choose from the many destinations listed, so you can get a nice, relaxing break amidst the vibrant foliage of Autumn.

New England is probably the one region most closely associated with the Autumn season, as it features the most visible changes to its foliage, as well as a long tradition of harvest fairs, Halloween thrills, and various other seasonal celebrations to herald the season. The city of Boston loves to celebrate fall in style with the Head of the Charles Regatta, a two-day rowing race that attracts over 9,000 participants and countless more spectators each year, making it the largest race of its kind in the world. You can watch the boats pass by underneath the leisurely shade on the banks of the Charles River. Another classic New England activity during this season is the month-long Halloween festivities in Salem, MA, the site of the infamous witch trials in colonial times. This small, coastal city, a short train ride from Boston, has retained much of its colonial demeanor. There are numerous “spooky” tours you can choose from; themed museums, haunted houses, and eateries; as well as not one, but several psychics who all promise to see into your future. That’s right – if you don’t like the sound of your fortune, you can just get a new one from a different psychic. Round-trip bus tickets from New York to Boston start at just $36.

Another potential idea, for those customers on the West Coast, is exploring one of the absolutely breathtaking parks located in that region. Okay, maybe the mammoth California redwood trees of Muir Woods, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, don’t change colors in the fall, and their humbling size and majesty remain constant year-round. But these trees are each hundreds of years old, and this fact, coupled with the inherent otherworldly atmosphere of Autumn, creates a truly mystical quality in Muir Woods. Even the name of the region itself – “Muir” – seems to come straight from The Lord of the Rings (John Muir was actually a 19th-century environmentalist and early proponent of wilderness preservation). While there will not be a vast number of visual changes to the scenery, for those of you on the West Coast this fall, an excursion to Muir Woods, or any one of California’s many other redwood sanctuaries, makes for an enticing outing. Bring the kids, and let their imaginations run wild in this fantasy landscape! Bus tickets from Los Angeles to San Francisco start at just $80.

Don’t let yourself feel all cooped up indoors; get out now to capture the exquisite beauty of Autumn. There is no reason to wait! Visit GotoBus.com and choose your perfect destination now.

It’s Mischief Night in the U.S., which means the Halloween season is coming to a close. If you’re still looking for something frighteningly fun to do on All Hallow’s Eve, never fear! We at GotoBus are here to help. Here are some awesome festivities in major cities across the country that will be more than suitable for last-minute thrill-seekers:

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, located in the Hollywood area, is a high-intensity scare-fest that is entering its fifth year of running. While not good for young children, adults of all ages will love this elaborate show, which has received accolades in the press. After the hayride itself, guests will be able to enter a dark maze with only a dim lamp to guide them through the shadows. The maze it different each year, so even those who have participated in the past should have a go! | October 30 and 31, 7:00pm – 10:30pm

Washington D.C.: Held at the National Zoo of the Smithsonian Institute, the Night of the Living Zoo is a 21+ event that allows access to the zoo during normally-dark hours. In addition to lights-out animal exploration, guests can enjoy live music, face painting, a costume contest, a pub crawl, and much more! The event is one-night only, and tickets are still available at the time of going to press. | October 30, 6:30pm – 10:00pm

Boston: The under-construction U.S.S. Salem is hosting a carnival in its parking lot in lieu of giving boat tours this Halloween. The main feature of the show will be Dr. Dread’s Ghastly Sideshow and Haunted Exhibition, a sideshow featuring strange and exotic exhibitions. In addition, guests can take a ride on the haunted school bus, a one-of-a-kind experience. This event is geared more toward fun than frights. | October 30 and 31, 7:00pm – 10:00pm

Chicago:The Fear Haunted House at Chicago’s Navy Pier is designed for teens and adults ages 13 and over, and aims to be a thrilling ride through a haunted ship run by a deranged captain. Monsters of all kinds hide behind barred doors, and guests have to figure out exactly what the captain is up to before it’s too late. The walk through the house takes between 15 and 20 minutes, and after guests may want to explore the rest of the Pier’s activities. | October 30 and 31, 7:00pm – 10:00pm

Looking for transportation to the above-mentioned cities? GotoBus helps you find a bus company that gets you there! One way bus transportation starts at $20. For detailed schedules, visit: http://www.gotbus.com/bus-tickets/

Fall is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful times of the year. It is filled with the bright colors of fruits and vegetables from the harvest as well as, of course, the greenery of the trees exploding dramatically into a vibrant array of all the rainbow has to offer.

Tourists come from all over the world to see the trees on the East Coast of the United States shed their leaves in preparation for the winter, and as you make your way around the Eastern Seaboard with GotoBus.com, you too can enjoy the autumn’s amazing vistas. Whether you’re travelling for holidays, to see friends, or taking a long-weekend vacation, New England is the place for you. Each trip you take in October and early November comes with the bonus of fall foliage sightseeing.

Another unique northeastern experience for autumn are the local farms, which offer a variety of fun-filled seasonal activities. From corn mazes to petting zoos to apple picking, these farms are a great one-stop-shop for fun family activities in the fall. If you’re in the Boston area, Davis Farm and and Connors Farm are two places that come highly recommended. The best part? On the way out, you can grab some delicious seasonal grub to take with you on your journey home!

There are lots of reasons to be out and about in the fall, and with the promise of a travel experience you can only have once a year there’s more incentive than ever to make your trips sooner as opposed to later.

Round-trip tickets for buses from New York to Boston start at $30, so what are you waiting for? Take a peek out your window and watch the world fly by in a burst of color unlike any other!

Las Vegas is known to be the home of some the best entertainment, dining, and nightlife in the world. We want to make sure GotoBus travelers have best time possible. With this in mind, we try to keep as much money in your pocket so you can enjoy all that Vegas has to offer.

Before you put your life-savings on black, you need to visit our Bus + Hotel booking system. GotoBus combines the best in bus transportation options with the wide assortment of Las Vegas hotels. The best part is that when you book them together, you save 10% off your hotel stay! Plan your trip in advance, or you can book ‘last minute’ and still find savings that you can’t find anywhere else. We have one night trips for two starting at just $100!